Hello, Stargate Lovers!

Just a little chapter, with a bit of what the characters might be feeling... or not, regarding the events of the last one.

Info: The action happens before the SGA-1 team goes on a mission to find a cure for the Hoffan drug (episode "Outsiders").

Enjoy!

Chapter 46: Episode 5x12

"Missed this place?"

The scientist looked up and smiled at Cameron Mitchell that was leaning against the doorframe, like he had done so many times before. It had been a few days since Alexandra had came back to Earth and only now she was seeing him as he had been offworld on mission.

"I did, actually." She offered him a wink, half joking.

Cameron smiled as he stepped inside the office and sat right on the desk, like he used to before they had broken up. It used to unsettle her, since it messed with the flow of her work, she used to say. Or maybe it had been just him, for all intents and purposes, as the Ancients had intended since the moment they met. However, she knew now he had enjoyed to unsettle her. It was how things had started between them.

"We missed you around here, you know? I…" The leader of SG-1 started.

"Cam, please don't..." Alexandra sighed, her brown eyes finding his blue ones. Always ready to read right into her soul.

"C'mon, Alex… I've read Sheppard's reports. After what happened with that Ancient you should have come back." His tone was deep and filled with an anger she didn't expected. Or wished she didn't.

"Cameron, stop." Immediately, she stood. "I'm here. And I'm much better. I know now I needed this change. Come back home, see my Mom, my friends. Been a few days and already feel... much more at ease."

"According to Dr. Lam, you're still not clear for field duty. That Kal really messed with your head, uh? Just like Anubis... Adria..."

Turning her eyes down, Alexandra felt a drop in her heart hearing those names.

"They messed with your heart, Cam. That doesn't mean we changed. At least not that much." When she looked up at him again, Cameron was staring intensely at her. "Did that stop you from fighting back?" And when he sighed, she offered a smile. "Thought so."

"Do you know what they want this time?"

"No. They don't talk to me. Not like they used to. Especially after we went to the Ori galaxy."

The leader of SG-1 stared at her, remembering what Adria had done to them. He sighed once again. He knew how Alexandra was strong and how fragile she could be. Or become around Ancients and their rules.

"If the Ancients are messing up with your life again, I should be around. With your powers back… What if there are tests again?"

"And you'll do what, Cam? Protect me? You almost died last time."

"Can you please just listen to me? Let me…"

"Cameron." The man stopped at her serious tone. "It's my job dealing with them. Whatever they throw at me." Not handling the distance, as if a magnet always ready to pull them close, Alexandra stepped around her desk and got closer to him. It was so natural to fall back into place, even after what happened. "This is my fight." His hand settled on her hip like it did so many times before as did her hand on his arm to calm him. "I can handle them."

"I know. I just don't want you to be alone when fighting them." Blue eyes looked serious now.

"I won't be. I promise."

The pilot smiled, reassured somehow. She always had that thing about her. Always patient and calm under duress of battle. That had been one of the things it had made him want her. Intensely and always. Even now, when he knew everything he had felt had been a lie.

"Let's get back to work, then, Colonel?"

"Yes, ma'am." He offered her cheeky wink.

Alexandra rolled her eyes as she watched him back away from her office with a salute.

For a moment, the scientist looked around. She was back in her home planet and she felt relaxed. For the first time in weeks.

Meanwhile, back in the Pegasus Galaxy…

"He's in a bad mood." Rodney said with a sigh, watching John knock a few soldiers down in the gym area.

"He's been in a bad mood since Alex left." Teyla mentioned with a sad tone.

"Give him a few more days." Ronon interjected, looking up from his spot. Even he had been a punching bag for the Atlantis military commander. However, he knew his friend needed that anger outlet.

"She could have said goodbye to him." Rodney continued with a sigh.

"It was too hard. For both." Ronon said, making the Athosian and the scientist look at him with a surprised look. "I don't understand their relationship, but I think she needed a time off from him and whatever happened in her past, before coming to Atlantis, made her afraid of what Sheppard feels."

"Hm... He scared her. Perhaps, if he had been more patient..." Teyla nodded.

"Patient? Have you met him?" Rodney squeaked.

"He knows her better than us, so yes, he should have been more patient and waited for her next step." The Satedan said.

Teyla smiled, her brown eyes following the Colonel's movements.

"You're probably right. But she trusted him, I know she confided in him many times. Why not now?"

"Like you said once. She might be bound to whatever rules the Ancients operate."

Teyla and Rodney looked at each other, agreeing with the warrior's reasoning.

"Hey, buddy!" Ronon interrupted their line of thinking at John's approach.

"You guys ready?" John took a big gulp from his water bottle.

"Yeah, Carson is probably waiting for us already." The scientist said.

"You guys go along. I'll shower and change."

Leaving his friends behind, the pilot knew what they had been talking about. Him and the way he was acting for the past few days. After all, it was strange how Rodney ended up in the gym with both Teyla and Ronon.

As he took the elevator to his quarters, John got ready in a matter of minutes, trying not to think too much.

However, as he walked back to the control room, somehow he always ended up near her lab before leaving on a mission.

It had been a week, and the door was kept open, as if she was simply offworld. And, of course, Woolsey didn't let anyone touch her things, except for Rodney.

Now, John had been so used to seeing her there, that he didn't realize how much he would miss her once she was gone. His hazel eyes noticed the books she didn't take and, for him, that was a good sign. It meant she would return eventually. Which gave him something to think about and hope for.

As he turned away from Alexandra's lab, his eyes found Teyla at the tail end of the corridor, right before entering the gate area.

"Feeling better, Colonel?" She offered him a knowing smile.

"Much. Why are you not by the gate?"

"I was wondering if you would like to talk. Today's gym session was a little... concerning. And I know that it's been a week since Alex left..."

"And I still don't want to talk about it, Teyla." John half narrowed his eyes as they walked together.

"You two parted in bad terms..." The Athosian sighed.

"She made her decision. And I know it was one she needed to make."

"John…"

The pilot turned around with his hand up, making Teyla close her lips.

"Listen, Teyla. I'm not angry, or upset, with Alex. I'm resigned with her decision. She thought it was better for her. Perhaps even for me, if I really think about it." He gave her a thoughtful look with a half smile. "So, please, lets not talk about this further."

Teyla looked at her friend for a moment, seeing more than what he was saying.

"Very well, John. I won't speak of it any further."

"Thank you. Now lets go visit the good doctor, shall we?"

Ps: Thoughts?